Luke 13:34 kjv

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!

Luke 13:34 nkjv

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing!

Luke 13:34 niv

"Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.

Luke 13:34 esv

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!

Luke 13:34 nlt

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God's messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn't let me.

Luke 13 verses

Luke 13 34 Meaning

Luke 13:34 is a poignant lament spoken by Jesus over Jerusalem, expressing His profound sorrow and heartfelt desire to gather and protect the city's inhabitants, similar to a hen gathering her vulnerable chicks under her wings. Despite His tender, repeated attempts to offer divine refuge and salvation, Jerusalem persistently rejected Him and His messengers. This verse highlights both God's relentless love and grace, as embodied in Christ, and humanity's stubborn unwillingness to embrace that offer, ultimately leading to self-inflicted judgment and spiritual desolation.

Luke 13 34 Context

Luke 13:34 serves as a dramatic climax to a section where Jesus addresses repentance and God's patience. Preceding verses (13:1-9) recount two events leading Jesus to warn listeners about the need for repentance lest they perish, exemplified by the parable of the barren fig tree which illustrates God's grace and foretells judgment for unproductivity. The lament over Jerusalem, while not in Jerusalem geographically at this point (as He is still journeying towards it), is placed here as a profound expression of His ultimate concern for the city. It precedes His teaching on the narrow door and further warnings against spiritual complacency. Historically, Jerusalem was not only the capital and religious center but also historically the site of persecution for God's messengers. Prophets like Jeremiah often faced opposition there. The imagery of gathering under wings reflects common Near Eastern cultural understanding of protection and security provided by a powerful entity. The lament also foreshadows the future Roman destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, a direct consequence of the city's rejection of God's Messiah.

Luke 13 34 Word analysis

• O Jerusalem, Jerusalem (᾽Ιερουσαλήμ, ᾽Ιερουσαλήμ - Ierousalem, Ierousalem): The repetition of the city's name emphasizes deep emotion—anguish, sorrow, and intense pity. It signifies a profound, lamenting address to the very heart of the nation, its religious and political center.
• which killest (ἀποκτείνουσα - apokteinousa): A present active participle, indicating a habitual or continuous action. It describes Jerusalem's characteristic pattern of behavior throughout its history: it is a city defined by its murderous treatment of God's chosen messengers.
• the prophets (τοὺς προφήτας - tous prophētas): God's divinely inspired spokespersons. Their fate in Jerusalem consistently illustrates the city's rebellion against God's direct word and warnings.
• and stone (καὶ λιθοβολοῦσα - kai lithobolousa): Again, a present active participle, showing a consistent practice. Stoning was a prescribed method of execution for blasphemy or false prophecy under the Mosaic Law, ironically applied by Jerusalem to true prophets sent by God.
• them that are sent (τοὺς ἀπεσταλμένους - tous apestalmenous): A broader term than "prophets," encompassing all divine messengers commissioned and sent by God. This extends even to John the Baptist and, implicitly, to Jesus Himself. It highlights God's continuous outreach.
• unto her (πρὸς αὐτήν - pros autēn): Emphasizes that these messengers were sent directly to Jerusalem, the very seat of national identity and religious authority, indicating the focused nature of God's plea.
• how often (ποσάκις - posakis): A rhetorical question indicating a multitude of past occasions. It underscores the persistent and patient efforts of God through Jesus to save Jerusalem, revealing His enduring long-suffering and desire for their salvation.
• would I have gathered... (ἠθέλησα ἐπισυνάξαι - ēthelēsa episynaxai): Expresses Jesus' earnest desire or will ("I wanted," "I longed to gather"). The verb episynaxai means to assemble or collect closely together, suggesting a protective and unifying embrace, aimed at bringing salvation and security. This reveals His divine yearning and compassionate heart.
• thy children (τὰ τέκνα σου - ta tekna sou): The inhabitants of Jerusalem, representative of the people of Israel. Jesus sees them as His children, signifying a paternal or maternal care for them.
• as a hen (ὄρνις - ornis): A tender, universally understood metaphor for a mother bird. It depicts vulnerability, fierce protectiveness, and sacrificial love. This image evokes immediate empathy for the protecting parent and understanding of the young's absolute need for shelter.
• doth gather (ἐπισυνάγει - episynagei): The same root verb as Jesus' earlier expressed desire, emphasizing the natural and strong instinct of the hen to protect her young, mirroring God's divine impulse to protect His people.
• her brood (τὴν νοσσίαν - tēn nossian): Her young ones, who are dependent and utterly vulnerable, symbolizing the people of Jerusalem who desperately needed Jesus' shelter from impending judgment.
• under her wings (ὑπὸ τὰς πτέρυγας αὐτῆς - hypo tas pterygas autēs): A powerful and recurring biblical image of ultimate protection, security, and shelter from danger, storm, or judgment. It speaks of a safe, nurturing refuge provided by divine strength.
• and ye would not (καὶ οὐκ ἠθελήσατε - kai ouk ēthelēsate): The heartbreaking counterpoint. The perfect tense indicates a settled, decisive unwillingness on Jerusalem's part. This phrase is central to the lament, highlighting humanity's culpable free will and rejection of God's outstretched hand, despite His fervent desire. It is their active refusal that frustrates the divine purpose.

Luke 13 34 Bonus section

This lament in Luke 13:34 serves as a pivotal theological statement on divine desire versus human will. It underscores that God's desire for salvation is genuine and ardent ("how often I would have gathered"), but it does not override human free moral agency. Jerusalem's impending desolation is not an arbitrary act of divine judgment but a direct consequence of their consistent refusal to embrace the offered grace. The "house left desolate" in the parallel Matthew account (Matt 23:38) further solidifies this point, indicating that the judgment is a result of abandonment, not abandonment by God's choice, but because the inhabitants had themselves chosen to remain outside His protective care. This verse also illustrates the deep personal anguish of God over His rebellious creation, reflecting a God who suffers alongside His rejected love. It is a moment where Jesus, the Son of God, publicly laments His inability to save those who refuse to be saved, offering a poignant glimpse into the cost of human rebellion on the heart of God.

Luke 13 34 Commentary

Luke 13:34 encapsulates Jesus' profound divine compassion met with tragic human resistance. His double address to "Jerusalem, Jerusalem" expresses an almost unbearable grief over the city that consistently, generation after generation, rejected and murdered God's messengers, ultimately setting itself against divine love itself. The imagery of the hen gathering her chicks vividly portrays Jesus' gentle yet powerful desire to provide intimate protection, security, and salvation—a refuge from spiritual and physical destruction (foreshadowing the Roman siege). This was not merely an idle wish, but an earnest, repeated offering of His saving presence and authority. Yet, the stark reality is captured in "and ye would not." This refusal, born of self-will and spiritual blindness, highlights the city's moral culpability and sealing of its own fate. Jesus' lament is a testament to God's patient grace, but it also stands as a stark warning about the consequences of persistent rejection of divine mercy, ultimately leading to deserved desolation.